Palestinian Factions Agree to Share Power

By Mohammed Daraghmeh THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MECCA, Saudi Arabia — Rival Palestinian leaders signed an agreement on a power-sharing government Thursday in Saudi-brokered talks in Mecca, with the militant Hamas group promising to “respect” peace deals with Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of the mainstream Fatah movement, and Khaled Mashaal, leader of Hamas, signed the accord at a ceremony hosted by Saudi King Abdullah in a palace overlooking the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine.

The deal, reached on the second day of the marathon talks, sets out the principles of the coalition government, including a promise that it will “respect” previous peace deals with Israel, delegates said. It also divides up Cabinet posts in the new government.

Announcing the agreement at the ceremony, Abbas aide Nabil Amr read a letter in which Abbas designated Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to draw up the new government within five weeks according to the formula agreed on in the talks. Abbas said the deal would “satisfy our people … and bring us to the shores of peace.”

Mashaal said the accord “will unify our ranks. There is a commitment and unity. We will preserve this partnership.”

Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin told The Associated Press late Thursday that the new Palestinian government must accept all three international conditions: recognition of Israel, acceptance of all former agreements, and a renunciation of all terror and violence. She would not say whether Israel believes the guidelines of the new government fulfill those demands.

(c) 2007 Daily Breeze. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.